“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Amos 5:24

Ah, the key verse of Amos makes its way to the surface: justice and righteousness, rolling on like a river, a never-failing stream. As Peterson (MSG) puts it, “That’s what I want. That’s all I want” says the Lord.

The word picture captures my imagination. I am transported to Niagara Falls in my mind. As a little kid I loved it when dad suggested a trip to the falls 80 miles away. It was pure joy to gaze at the perpetual motion of the waters of the upper river racing freely over their rocky bed to the edge of the Horseshoe Falls. There the purest green and silver spray dramatically cascaded 188 feet into the Whirlpool Rapids below.

In Amos’ day, both justice and righteousness had been dammed at the source by Israel and God was calling them on it: “Woe to you who turn justice to vinegar and stomp righteousness into the mud…run roughshod over the poor and take the bread right out of their mouths…bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down” (5:7,11-12, MSG). Oh my.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

  —Psalm 89:14-15  

Indeed, if we have learned to acclaim Jesus as Lord and to walk in the light of His presence we will be rolling on the river of God. And that is precisely where we want to be. As Adam Clarke says in his online commentary, God “knows what is right; he sees what is right; he does what is right; and his (justice is) ever according to righteousness.”  

Happily I revert to #1 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” If I have righteousness and justice flowing through me, everything I say and do will point to God (Matthew 5:16). And in His presence that righteousness and justice—"oceans of it…rivers of it” (5:24, MSG)—will be continually refreshed.

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.